The provided text explores the Minoan civilization's profound reliance on maritime trade, asserting it formed the core of their "thalassocracy," or sea power. It traces their development through chronological periods, highlighting how their unique Cretan geography fostered a civilization oriented towards the sea. The sources detail how palatial centers functioned as sophisticated economic hubs for production, storage, and trade, supported by advanced shipbuilding and navigational techniques, including celestial navigation. Furthermore, the text discusses the extensive Minoan trade networks, their cultural influence on the Aegean (known as "Minoanization"), and the debates surrounding the nature of their power, questioning whether it was purely commercial or militarily enforced. Finally, the decline of Minoan dominance is analyzed as a multi-causal event, triggered by the Thera eruption and exploited by the rising Mycenaeans.

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